<p>I received this distinction months ago but now I'm almost embarrassed to have it. My good friend told me that the cutoff for national hispanic scholar is less than commended scholar (the equivalent for whites and asians). What is the college board trying to say? Are they intimating that the average Hispanic is not as smart as the average asian or caucasian? Sure, the perks of numerous scholarships and recognition are nice, but the the award seems inherently bigoted and racist.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure I’m going to be a National Achievement finalist (same thing only for blacks) but I don’t really feel as if it’s degrading. Be proud of your achievement! (not just relative to your race but overall!) 
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<p>Statistically minorities still perform worse than whites/asians on standardized tests so until that gap closes, I think programs like these will stay around. But hey! Just remember you don’t have to report the award on your college application if you don’t want to be associated with it.</p>
<p>I understand where you’re coming from though. Sometimes I hate these kind of things just because of some of the negative criticisms I get from some people about programs like these :/</p>
<p>The scholarship companies think for some reason that it’s their duty to artificially close the score “gap”.</p>
<p>The academic achievement of the average Hispanic person IS lower than the average white or asian person (but grades /=/ intelligence). If they gave the scholarship to the top 5% of spanish students, then the cutoff would be lower than if they gave it to the top 5% of white students.</p>
<p>Then why even separate the scholarships by race?</p>
<p>can you get nation hispanic or national achievemnt and regular NMS?</p>
<p>It’s affirmative action.
I don’t agree with it either, but eh…</p>
<p>I honestly didn’t put this on my application (along with other “awards” I didn’t think I really earned like the ventures). It annoyed me, I mean, I think this was the point where I began realizing the relationship between hispanics and colleges which is summed up in the “omygawd! a smart mexican! you’re like a college applicant unicorn!”.</p>
<p>which really gets annoying because at a certain point you’re like “well what the hell am I taking the hardest possible courses for? why do I even volunteer? why study and stress, why even bother if you say it’s just because of my race and your pity!?”</p>
<p>but I think I’ve realized you might as well take whatever lucky bonuses you get, I’ve known hispanics, fellow friends to get turned down at ivies and such and they we’re damn good students so it bothers me to see posts here that minorities don’t even have to be good to get into a college. because we do still have to try, to make an effort, to hope and all that. so just ignore what others say and keep doing what your doing.</p>
<p>^^^^
True many URMs are “smart.” However, minorities don’t have to be “as good” statistically to get into top colleges. Thats a fact. Legacies and recruits also don’t have to be “as good” statistically either. If you are offended by that statement simply dont disclose your race on your application and see if you get in without the benefits of minority status. However, don’t down play affirmative action. Minority status usually is a HUGE boost to one’s application.</p>